Who painted Promenade du Boeuf gras?

Promenade du Boeuf gras was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1839.

Where can I see Promenade du Boeuf gras?

Promenade du Boeuf gras is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Promenade du Boeuf gras?

Promenade du Boeuf gras is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Promenade du Boeuf gras?

Museum-quality prints of Promenade du Boeuf gras are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Promenade du Boeuf gras

Honoré Daumier , 1839

Promenade du Boeuf gras is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1839, this lithographic print by Honoré Daumier captures a bustling Parisian procession known as the Boeuf gras parade. The composition teems with figures—spectators, revelers, and a central float bearing a scythe—set against a backdrop that includes a clock‑topped building. Daumier’s rapid, sketch‑like lines convey the lively disorder of the public celebration.

Subject & Meaning

The work records the yearly festivity in which a richly adorned ox, the Boeuf gras, symbolizes plenty and communal joy. By placing the animal amid a crowded street scene, Daumier highlights both the spectacle of abundance and the chaotic energy of urban life, inviting viewers to consider the social dynamics of public merriment in 19th‑century Paris.

Technique & Style

The medium’s capacity for swift reproduction suited his work for the newspapers that disseminated his observations.

Executed in lithography, the image relies on bold, gestural strokes that suggest movement and immediacy. Daumier’s characteristic caricatural approach simplifies forms while retaining expressive detail, allowing the print to function both as a documentary record and a satirical commentary. The medium’s capacity for swift reproduction suited his work for the newspapers that disseminated his observations.

History & Provenance

Daumier produced the print while contributing to satirical journals such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, outlets that regularly featured his social and political critiques. The piece reflects his broader printmaking output, which circulated widely among the reading public of the time, reinforcing his reputation as a keen observer of French society.

Context

The Boeuf gras parade was an established tradition in Paris, celebrating agricultural bounty during a period of rapid urbanization. Daumier’s depiction situates the event within the bustling capital, juxtaposing rural symbolism with the dense, modern cityscape, thereby underscoring the tension between tradition and contemporary urban life.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.